The term social environment, refers to that physical and social setting in which people live or in which something happens or develops. It also includes the culture that the individual was educated or lives in, the culture that was created by the individuals of particular social environment.
Historically in order to enrich his life, man has brought about many changes in the natural environment because he has used natural resources. Human settlements, dams, farmlands, roads and many other things have all developed through this.
Social environment is a broader concept than that of social circle or social class as far as it refers almost to all issues of life conditions of individuals. It can have the repercussions on society in general. It also focuses on that how the societies interact with the environment they live in as well as the societies of different cultures.
The physical environment is the chemical and physical make-up of an ecosystem. It includes the climate, winds, rainfall, obtainable nutrients, soil etc., within the ecosystem. The physical environment affects the organisms that live in particular ecosystems. It might respond to the needs of individuals. They need to ingest amino acids and specific vitamins that their bodies cannot make. In order for their bodies to make vitamin D, they also need some sunlight. And to be able to maintain their body temperatures they need to be in a warm enough climate. Taking that into consideration, it is obvious that the individuals are strictly limited by physical environment to live in.
Environmental issues, broadly defined, are critical to understanding the health and well-being of the population. It refers to the resources that individuals have in their physical environment and the nature and extent of their personal social networks. In such a way housing conditions are very important if talking about quality of life. It has a great influence on mental and physical health of individuals. Those who have houses, they take advantage of using nature resources in a proper way. Thus higher level of hygiene means that individuals have a lot of opportunities to be healthy. They usually have less stress; they are usually not oppressed by being beggars on the street. The individuals who live in houses have better social life as well. That is why such a point of house ownership has a major impact on lives of the individuals, both on their physical and mental health.
The area in which the individuals live and the amenities to which they have an access can have significant effects for their health and well-being . Local amenities obviously provide a range of key functions, such as a General Practice. There are also opportunities for socializing and meeting people. The infrastructure of the area makes a lasting impact on people’s lives. The exhausted fumes, acid rains and other environmental problems can disastrous effects not only on the nature resources and conditions, but on the health of individuals as well. So people become victims of their own activity.
Social relationships are paramount for health and well-being throughout the life, and may protect against the health declines that often accompany people ageing. Socializing may help in the identification of more isolated or vulnerable individuals in the population. However, every medal has two sides; people often suffer from horrible social conditions they live in. They can be a bull of scorn in a way of racial or employment discrimination for example.
All things consider, it is worth to admit that physical and social environment has a great influence on the individuals. It creates different living conditions so that can improve life of individuals or vice versa to affect it.